Dog and I started early, what with a hot day forecast. Sure enough it was cloudless, but here on the east side of the basin, we’ve got the mountain shade early—and a little bit of a breeze kept things about room temperature on our way up to the ridge, where I decided we could climb for a change.
And climb we did. Had plenty of water for Jack, and most of the hike was in shadow. (The sunny spots were a little toasty.) Quite a few birds out early—I figure they didn’t want to have to brave the afternoon heat. Which, by the way, reached 100° (F). (Tomorrow’s supposed to get to 101°, and the day after 102°.)
It’ll be a drought-ravaged year here in the west, but still we’ll go out hiking. (Early.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:03 a.m. (8:03 MDT), I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
A little windy this morning, and few birds to start. As the sun topped the ridge and the air warmed up, more of the usual resident suspects made appearances—especially buntings and towhees.
It’s pretty dry, though. Drought conditions, in fact. Throughout the western states. Summer-like fire warnings with a couple weeks left in spring. Things are still green, and dragonflies are out, and pollinators are tending to multitudes of high desert flowers. But when draught comes to the high desert, there’s room for a little concern.
Still Nature knows what she’s doing. All life’s connected. And precipitation will come. Eventually.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:24 a.m. (8:24 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Breezy, cool, mostly overcast to start, clearing later—and what a hike it would be. Tallied twenty-four varied species (including a random Mallard flyby).
Other birds of interest were a couple of flycatchers, a Brewer’s Sparrow, a little flock of swallows, a tanager. Several species stopped to let me take their photo.
Already looking forward to morning.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:11 a.m. (8:11 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lazuli Bunting 2. Black-headed Grosbeak (v) 3. Rock Pigeon 4. Black-chinned Hummingbird 5. American Robin* 6. Spotted Towhee 7. Warbling Vireo 8. Western Wood-pewee 9. Mourning Dove 10. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 11. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12. House Finch** 13. Mallard 14. Rock Wren 15. Brewer’s Sparrow 16. Pine Siskin (v) 17. Chipping Sparrow 18. Black-capped Chickadee 19. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v) 20. Black-billed Magpie 21. Virginia’s Warbler 22. Violet-green Swallow 23. Western Tanager
Elsewhere
24. California Quail 25. European Starling 26. Song Sparrow
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
